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User profile for user: RajSMatharu
RajSMatharu Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

What causes activation lock?

Hi all,


Looking for some guidance please...

I purchased an iPhone X - April 25 2018 from a lady on Facebook. It was brand new, with the wrapping still on it. I don't have the original purchase receipt and tried to reach out to the seller, who has not responded. (even offered her money to send me the info)


I took the phone home and unwrapped it, activated it and its worked perfectly well until the other week when I erased the phone and reset it.


Now its asking me for an activation lock password for an AppleID I don't recognize.


My questions are:

  1. What could have caused the activation lock after such a long time?
  2. Why is there a foreign AppleID holding my iPhone hostage?
    1. How did it get there?
  3. Is there a solution (other than the original receipt route)?
  4. Has anyone had this issue before?


I'd appreciate any support, please?

Posted on Jul 7, 2021 7:26 AM

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User profile for user: Limnos
Limnos
User level: Level 10
419,113 points

Posted on Jul 7, 2021 7:31 AM

'Activation Lock for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch' is a security feature that's designed to prevent anyone else from using an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, if it's ever lost or stolen. To learn more click here --> http://support.apple.com/HT201365


For an individual to remove an activation lock absolutely requires the information for the account that applied the lock. Click on this link to learn 'How to remove Activation Lock' --> https://support.apple.com/HT201441


If you do not know the required information and you are not the original owner, get the owner of the account to remove the lock or return the device for a refund or recycle it. The device is otherwise useless to you. If the owner is unknown and has not provided contact information as a message showing in the login screen, there is no way to contact the owner unless the person who gave you the device knows them.


Clearly the phone was not brand new. When you erased it the phone contacted Apple's database and saw the original owner had marked it as lost and to engage activation lock the next time it was connected to the Internet.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Limnos
Limnos
User level: Level 10
419,113 points

Jul 7, 2021 7:31 AM in response to RajSMatharu

'Activation Lock for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch' is a security feature that's designed to prevent anyone else from using an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, if it's ever lost or stolen. To learn more click here --> http://support.apple.com/HT201365


For an individual to remove an activation lock absolutely requires the information for the account that applied the lock. Click on this link to learn 'How to remove Activation Lock' --> https://support.apple.com/HT201441


If you do not know the required information and you are not the original owner, get the owner of the account to remove the lock or return the device for a refund or recycle it. The device is otherwise useless to you. If the owner is unknown and has not provided contact information as a message showing in the login screen, there is no way to contact the owner unless the person who gave you the device knows them.


Clearly the phone was not brand new. When you erased it the phone contacted Apple's database and saw the original owner had marked it as lost and to engage activation lock the next time it was connected to the Internet.

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What causes activation lock?

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